SPRINGFIELD – For bravery, valor, dedication, and, in one case, for paying the ultimate sacrifice, four Springfield police officers and one Massachusetts State Police trooper were awarded the department’s Medal of Honor.

Before the evening concluded, a surprise fifth medal was given to Police Commissioner William Fitchet, for his role in a July 18 standoff in Ludlow in which he wrestled the gun away from a suicidal man.

After the award was presented to him by Mayor Domenic Sarno, a speechless Fitchet could only say into the microphone “I wasn’t expecting this.”

Sarno in his opening remarks said he has found humility as a common element among police officers.

Ask any one of them about the events they were honored for, and the common answer would be “We’re just doing our jobs,” Sarno said. “Every day and every night when the call comes in, these men and women in blue -- with integrity, professionalism and courage -- answer that call.”

Ambrose’s family, his widow Carla and two children Krista and Kyle accepted the award in his place.

Kevin Ambrose

Kyle Ambrose, speaking afterward for the family, said it was a tremendous honor for the family for his father to be recognized. “All of us are most proud; it’s unfortunate for the circumstances in which my dad received it.”

Ambrose, 55, a 36-year-police veteran, was shot multiple times on June 4 as he responded alone to a domestic call for an apartment on Lawton Street.

Shawn Bryan, a New York City corrections officer, was attempting to barricade himself in an apartment with his estranged girlfriend, Charlene Mitchell, and Ambrose was shot as he attempted to force his way through the door. Bryan then shot him several more times in the hallway, and then shot Ambrose, and then shot Mitchell, critically injuring her. Bryan would later commit suicide.

Fitchet, in reading an account of the incident, said Ambrose’s actions were “second to none. He conducted himself honorably. He sacrificed his life so that others might live. His actions are highly commendable and in keeping with the highest standards of the Springfield Police Department.”

As the account was read, Kyle Ambrose hugged his mother briefly during the passage where the officer succumbed to his injuries.

Afterward, he said, such moments are hard on the family, but everyone is doing as well as can be expected. “It’s hard,” he said. “To listen to it over and over, it takes its toll.”

Gonzalez and Starks stood in for Ayala and Trooper Gregorczyk, who had separate family obligations and could not make the ceremony.

The four were involved April 30, 2011 shoot out on Cambridge Street with Tamik Kirkland, an escaped prisoner and homicide suspect, who was hiding in the trunk of a car.

Springfield police officer Raul Gonzalez, seen here at the scene of the April 30, 2011 shootout on Cambridge Street, displays the bullet-proof vest that blocked a bullet. Gonzalez was honored with two other officers and a state trooper Thursday with the Medal of Honor for their actions in the shootout.File photo / The Republican

Gonzalez and Gregorczyk were shot during the incident but escaped injury to due their protective vests. Kirkland, who was shot several times but survived, is scheduled for trial on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, in early April.

Gonzalez and Starks each said before the ceremony they were thrilled to receive the award in front of friends, family and peers.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the city of Springfield, my fellow officers and the bosses,” said Starks, a 24-year veteran.

Gonzalez said the greatest honor is to share the moment with the Ambrose family. “Kevin Ambrose gave his life for the department and for (the Mitchell family). I’m happy to be here with them as he is honored.”

Both Starks and Gonzalez said the shoot out on Cambridge Street happened lightning quick, and all of the officers involved resorted to their training as they responded.

“Things slowed way down and then it got real,” said Starks said. He said one moment he was standing by the stopped car, and in the next second, the trunk popped open and there was gunfire.

Gonzalez, a 16-year veteran who ordinarily is a K-9 officer but that day was working undercover, said it happened so fast. He said he did not know until later that children were in the same car that Kirkland was hiding in, and each day he is thankful that none of them were hurt in the gunfire.

He and Gregorczyk were each struck in their protective vests by gunfire but escaped injury. Gonzalez said with the excitement and adrenaline of the moment, he never felt anything. He said he did not want to look at his vest afterward, and to this day does not know where exactly on his torso he was hit.

“We got to work every day, knowing that something like that can happen,” he said. “It can happen at any time.”

Prior to Thursday, the Medal of Honor has only been awarded 25 times previously by the police. The most recent recipient was officer Edward F. Cass who was honored in 2003 for his attempt to rescue a drowning canoeist.

In making Fitchet the 29th recipient, Sarno said the commissioner demonstrated the highest level of courage during his role in the July 18 standoff in Ludlow. The suspect, retired Springfield police officer George Stuart, 71, was attempting to shoot himself and Fitchet moved to stop him. Stuart managed to shoot himself in the struggle but survived, and Fitchet suffered burns to his hand from the gun barrel as he held onto the gun while it was being fired.

Sarno said he and several others, including Ludlow Police Chief James J. McGowan, thought it appropriate to honor Fitchet’s heroism at the same time others were being recognized for their bravery.

“He put his life on the line,” Sarno said.

CBS 3 Video: Medal of honor ceremony in SpringfieldFor bravery, valor, dedication, and, in one case, for paying the ultimate sacrifice, four Springfield police officers and one Massachusetts State Police trooper were awarded the departmentâs Medal of Honor.

The award had to be done in secret, he said, because Fitchet, who Sarno said is an extremely humble man, would never have agreed to it if he knew in advance.
“If he knew about it, he probably would have arrested me,” Sarno said.

Fitchet afterward said that he was humbled and honored, and also downplayed his actions.

“I was just trying to save someone’s life by doing what any one of them would have done,” he said, gesturing to the many police officers still in the auditorium.